Starter for 10

Fiona McNamara made history on Thursday when she became the first female announcer on the 10th at the 20th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Whilst she initially found it “nerve wracking”, she soon said, “…to be able to volunteer, and give something back has been really special.”

So what does being an announcer mean? McNamara explained “…it’s a lot more involved than standing there and saying the golfers’ names. You’ve got to give out the tees, pencils, get the cards in order, let them know what the preferred lies are and if there are any local rules that apply on the day.”

McNamara has seen the tournament change over the years, she first arrived in Qatar in 1979 and settled here with her husband and children 21 years ago seeing the tournament throughout its infancy. She echoes what many of the pros have said this week, “In the early years it was small, it’s all grown so much each year, there’s a massive difference”.

If you’re heading down to Doha Golf Club, keep an eye out for Fiona announcing on the 10th. “It’s been super, a real pleasure to watch it all these years, it’s given local residents the chance to come up close to all of these pros. It’s a fabulous weekend, if you can, give up your time and come down.”

Tickets for the 20th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters are available for purchase on the door as well as here online.